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Haitian convenience store temporarily shut down for health department violation

The store can reopen if owners stop selling food or take steps to obtain permit.

News
By Jessica Orozco
Jan 19, 2024
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A Haitian convenience store on East Main Street was shut down by the Clark County Combined Health District for selling food without a license to do so.

The small store is considered a retail food establishment, and health department officials on multiple occasions attempted to work with the business, bringing an interpreter and information packet translated into Haitian Creole, director of environmental health Zibby Dewitt said. Since no action was taken, the owners have two options: Remove any food from the premises to reopen or complete a plan review packet and return it to the health department to be approved.

As of Thursday morning, there was still food on the premises.

The store also advertised it provided assistance with money transfers, passports, income taxes and more.

Assistant heath commissioner Chris Cook said the business has not violated the temporary shut-down order. He said the health department does not know who the owners are because nothing has been submitted to it.

Cook said it is important for the community to realize the health department is willing to help educate and inform the community on properly following health codes in opening a business.

“We believe in the kind of equity piece of this; we’re going to meet people where they are and help them be able to pursue their dream, whether that’s a small Haitian market, and [we] do that with anybody, but we’ve done everything that we can at this point to help,” Cook said. “It’s truly up to them at this point.”

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About the Author

Jessica Orozco covers crime, courts, government and more in Clark County for the Springfield-News Sun. She previously covered crime and courts for The Lima News, and before that, Orozco interned at The Columbus Dispatch on the metro desk. Orozco has a bachelor of arts in journalism from Ohio State University, from where she graduated in May 2022.